Album reviews: Neko Case and The Chambers Brothers

Published: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 06:14 PM.

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“The Worse Things Get...” is Case’s seventh album, and like the majority of her previous work it borders on stunning. Her sound is tough to pigeonhole, with the dreaded “indie” and “Americana” tags being lobbed in her general direction most of the time. The strands of rock, blues, jazz and country are surely there, but Case weaves them together in a truly unique way.

In reality, “The Worse Things Get...” is a pop album with teeth. Tracks such as the rocking “Man” and “Bracing For Sunday” are just as catchy as anything Katy Perry or Lorde have released, yet you don’t feel like a complete git when you catch yourself singing along.

“Nearly Midnight, Honolulu” is the prettiest combination of profanity and spookiness since Radiohead’s “Creep,” but in the case of Case the lyrics and vocals flow together seamlessly. Huge chunks of “Nearly Midnight” are vocal only, yet the lack of instrumentation isn’t missed. The ballad “Calling Cards” gives off a bittersweetness that sounds like Daniel Lanois producing the Velvet Underground & Nico.

Speaking of the Velvet Underground, “The Worse Things Get...” features a cover of “Afraid” - a song previously recorded by Nico. Originals are rarely eclipsed by cover versions, but in Case’s hands “Afraid” now has its definitive rendering. The submarine pings that open “Where Did I Leave That Fire?” incorporates Rick Wright’s “Echoes” intro to great effect. “Local Girl” should probably be turned into a movie, and album closer “Ragtime” closes the proceedings on a quirky groove.

As if having a voice that recalls Etta James and Petula Clark weren’t enough, Neko Case has also turned out to be one of the best songwriters of the last decade.

“The Worse Things Get...” is Case’s seventh album, and like the majority of her previous work it borders on stunning. Her sound is tough to pigeonhole, with the dreaded “indie” and “Americana” tags being lobbed in her general direction most of the time. The strands of rock, blues, jazz and country are surely there, but Case weaves them together in a truly unique way.

In reality, “The Worse Things Get...” is a pop album with teeth. Tracks such as the rocking “Man” and “Bracing For Sunday” are just as catchy as anything Katy Perry or Lorde have released, yet you don’t feel like a complete git when you catch yourself singing along.

“Nearly Midnight, Honolulu” is the prettiest combination of profanity and spookiness since Radiohead’s “Creep,” but in the case of Case the lyrics and vocals flow together seamlessly. Huge chunks of “Nearly Midnight” are vocal only, yet the lack of instrumentation isn’t missed. The ballad “Calling Cards” gives off a bittersweetness that sounds like Daniel Lanois producing the Velvet Underground & Nico.

Speaking of the Velvet Underground, “The Worse Things Get...” features a cover of “Afraid” - a song previously recorded by Nico. Originals are rarely eclipsed by cover versions, but in Case’s hands “Afraid” now has its definitive rendering. The submarine pings that open “Where Did I Leave That Fire?” incorporates Rick Wright’s “Echoes” intro to great effect. “Local Girl” should probably be turned into a movie, and album closer “Ragtime” closes the proceedings on a quirky groove.

Pretty much every Neko Case album is recommended, but “The Worse Things Get...” is as good a place to start as any.

Classic album: The Time Has Come

Artist: The Chambers Brothers

Label: Columbia

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The Chambers Brothers started out as a gospel vocal group that eventually drifted into folk music. With their 1968 single “Time Has Come Today” they created one of the greatest psychedelic rock songs of all time.

The album that spawned “Time Has Come Today” was called “The Time Has Come,” and it accurately depicted The Chambers Brothers’ versatility/identity crisis. People expecting the entire album to be a full-out psych/funk throw-down were met with a mix of soul, R&B and rock that was even more eclectic than the then current work of Sly & The Family Stone.

“All Strung Out Over You” is a hard-edged soul number that was a precursor of the Temptation’s “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”. Predictable but well executed covers of “People Get Ready” and “In The Midnight Hour” are included, but an epic version of “What The World Needs Now” veered into territory that would also be inhabited by Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears.

The hidden gem of the album is the eerie “So Tired,” which is a great example of The Chamber’s Brothers uncanny harmony vocals. This slow, minor-key dirge is stark and powerful and should have been a massive commercial hit. The rest of the album is pleasant enough, but other than the big hit single, “So Tired” is unquestionably the winner of the silver medal.

As for the massive single that is “Time Has Come Today,” it’s presented here in it’s original 11 minute glory. While the edited radio version is potent (and accessible via several greatest hits collections), the full album-length version is simply awesome. Lester Chambers powerful lead vocals are front and center, joined by an effect-laden cowbell impersonating a clock and torrential drumming by Brian Keenan.

“Time Has Come Today” was undoubtedly a product of 1960s unrest, but nearly five decades later it doesn’t sound hippy-dippy at all. Bands are still covering it, radio is still playing it, and corporations still use it to sell stuff. Unscrupulous management ended up derailing The Chambers Brothers, but what they were able to accomplish during their short spot in the sun has proven to be endlessly inspirational and influential.

Jon Dawson’s album reviews appear every Thursday in The Free Press. Contact Jon at 252-559-1092 or jon.dawson@kinston.com. Purchase Jon’s new book “Counterfeit Sauerkraut & The Weekend Teeth” at the Free Press office and jondawson.com.